[caocao74]

Zhu Qizhen ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435-1449 and 1457-1464, with the early part of the intervening period spent as a prisoner of the Mongols (after a badly-advised campaign) before being released. The period 1436-49 was the Zhengtong reign (hence the Zhengtong Emperor). He returned from captivity and after his brother (who had ruled as the Jingtai Emperor) died, he resumed the throne in 1457, and the reign until until 1464 was named the Tianshun reign.
Hence, my question is whether or not Zhu Qizhen resumed the title Zhengtong Emperor, or was retitled the Tianshun Emperor?

[wlee15]

He used the Era name of Tianshun after his restoration to power.

[caocao74]

wlee15, on Dec 11 2004, 08:12 AM, said:

He used the Era name of Tianshun after his restoration to power.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, thanks, but was he ever known as the Tianshun Emperor / Emperor Tianshun ??

[wlee15]

No he would only be refer as the "reigning emperor" or another title of similiar meaning during his life. The emperor's posthumous names or less likely his temple name would be used after his death.

[Sephodwyrm]

Emperor Ying of Ming dynasty, one of the inepts and lead cause for Ming decay. He also built a grand grave as a memorial to his good friend Wang Zheng.

[caocao74]

Sephodwyrm, on Dec 12 2004, 02:21 PM, said:

Emperor Ying of Ming dynasty, one of the inepts and lead cause for Ming decay. He also built a grand grave as a memorial to his good friend Wang Zheng.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Certainly, it would appear that his foolhardy decision to attack Esen Khan was one particularly inept decision.
After his release though he returned to Court only to be put under house arrest for 6 years by his brother (the Jingtai Emperor). What were the officially recorded reasons for this arrest? His military foolishness?

[Sephodwyrm]

The offical recorded reasons are that Jingtai didn't want to relinquish his imperial position. At first Jingtai was afraid of assuming the throne because the Oirats are going to assail the capital from all sides. But with the leadership of Yu Qian and the rest, the capital withstood the Oirat attack and the Oirats fled. Jingtai then felt secure and discovered that he rather liked being the emperor (though he is just to be a temporary one since the original emperor was captured).

When the ex-emperor returned the regent emperor was supposed to hand the throne back. But that didn't happen The regent wanted to keep his place and had his brother placed under house arrest.

[Yun]

Zhu Qizhen is usually known in history by his temple name as Emperor Yingzong, rather than by his reign era (as most other Ming emperors were), since he had two reigns.

[Sephodwyrm]

The eunuch that helped Zhu Qizhen regain his throne, Cao Jixiang, actually tried to stage an insurrection. However, this move was uncovered and betrayed by one of Cao's uneasy subordinate and Zhu acted ruthlessly...